A) If you have been registering your child in AYSO for many years, then you are used to the old way of doing things. AYSO has moved to using Blue Sombrero and the wait list functionality is much better. As a result, we can create a better experience. And, there is no longer a “close date” for registration.
Here is how registration with the new wait list functionality works:

• In the past, we allowed people to register until a certain date. Today, we allow people to register based on the beginning number of teams we are confident we can form with a qualified, certified, authorized, and registered volunteer coach.
  • The G10U division is set up initially to accept a maximum of thirty-six (36) registrations before starting to place players on the wait list.
  • Thirty-six (36) is equal to four (4) teams.
  • You might ask: Doesn’t each team in G10U have ten (10) players? Yes. We have reserved one (1) spot on each team in case we need to add a player on the wait list associated with an adult parent or guardian to be the team’s qualified, certified, authorized, and registered volunteer coach.
  • Using our G10U example, the division coordinator found two (2) coaches within the thirty-six (36) players and needs two (2) more coaches.
    • The division coordinator now tries to recruit two (2) more coaches associated with the players on the wait list.
    • Let’s assume that the division coordinator does find two (2) coaches associated with players on the wait list. The division commissioner allows the two (2) players associated with a coach - plus the first two (2) players on the wait list - to register. Now there are four (4) teams with ten (10) players on each team.
• Let’s now see what happens with our G10U example if we get four (4) coaches and can form four (4) teams from the registered players. Plus, there are twelve (12) more players still on the wait list.
  • If the division coordinator can find another coach within the twelve (12) players, then they allow the player associated with the coach to register and the first nine (9) other players from the wait list to register.
  • The division coordinator will continue to go through the process until they can no longer form teams or the season begins. There is no end date for registration. We will allow players to be placed on the wait list and continue to recruit coaches until the division coordinator can no longer form additional teams. Place your child on the wait list because we will continue to try and place them on a team all the way up to the start of the season.

If you have questions, then the best person to ask if your child will get placed on a team is the division coordinator. The list of division coordinators can be found on the “Board and Staff” webpage (click HERE to be taken to the page).

Registration can be done by clicking on the “Register Now” button at the top right corner of the website. Everyone - players and volunteers - will need to create a new login. Your old eAYSO login and account information will not work on the new site.

 

The process is several steps:

1. Creating your account. Like eAYSO, you need to create a new account where you can manage everything. Nothing carried over from eAYSO -- you are starting from scratch. A few notes from lessons learned:
   • Make sure use a physical address and not a mailing address. You can add a mailing address. Yet, your primary address must be your home/primary residence.
   • Setup all adults with access to the account - especially if any of you are going to register as volunteers.
2. Add your child/children to the account. Make sure you put in the correct date of birth... double check before pushing submit since the process of correcting it is extremely difficult and must be done by you directly with the National Office. We do not have the authority to correct it.
3. Registering for programs comes next. Yet, the Blue Sombrero site handles this as two separate steps whereas eAYSO used to do it in one.
   • The first step is registering each child with AYSO (the organization). The AYSO National Fee was always included in the registration fee we charged (and something we paid behind the scenes). Now, you must pay this fee first before registering for a specific Region program. The $17.50 National Fee is good for the entire membership year (August 1, 2017 to July 31, 2018 -- you will pay it again when registering for Fall 2018 for the next membership year). Note that this fee is not refundable.
   • The next step is to register each child for specific Region 144 programs. Registration for Winter Core (recreational) program is closed. Registration for the Spring Core program is currently open.

A list of all programs and what is included in each program for the 2018-2019 Membership Year can be found on the Programs tab under Registration or by clicking HERE.

The Region has revised the Refund Policy and published it on a different page. CLICK HERE to go to the Refund Plolicy & Protocol.

AYSO VIP is for players whose physical or mental disabilities make it difficult for them to successfully participate on mainstream AYSO soccer teams.

Yes, we absolutely do have a VIP Program! AYSO Region 144 (South Irvine) and AYSO Region 213 (North Irvine) have joined forces to deliver an Irvine AYSO VIP Program. The VIP Program Coordinator is based in AYSO Region 213 (North Irvine). Thus, we will ask you to register for the AYSO VIP Program in AYSO Region 213 (at www.aysosoccer.org).

• Fall Season
  • The Playground (4U) and Schoolyard (5U) programs are coed
  • All teams in the Core (6U, 8U, 10U, 12U, and 14U recreational) & Extra (10U, 12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U travel/competitive) programs are either all boys or all girls teams -- no coed teeams.
• Winter Season
  • The Playground (4U) and Schoolyard (5U) programs are coed
  • The Alll Star program teams are either all boys or all girls teams -- no coed teeams.
  • The Winter Core for 6U, 8U and 10U are either all boys or all girls teams -- no coed teeams.
  • The Winter Core for 12U and 14U teams are coed.

• Registration Questions: Please email the Regional Registrar ([email protected]) and the Regional Commissioner ([email protected]) with registration questions or issues.
• Questions about being a volunteer: Please email the Child-Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA), Greg Sarnecki, at [email protected]/li>
• Questions about becoming a coach or assistant coach: Please email the Regional Coach Administrator, Hong Yu, at [email protected]
• Questions about becoming a referee: Please email the Regional Referee Administrator, Michael Fuller, at [email protected]

The answer to this question is difficult to explain. If you don't understand the answer, then please reach out to the Division Commissioner and/or Regional Commissioner.

The simple answer is each team's practice and games schedule will be different. And, you will find out your child's schedule from the coach after your child has been assigned to the team.

No

You cannot request your child be placed on a team with a specific practice assignment or location because your child is placed on the team before this information is available.

The answer is not easy because it depends upon you. Schedules cannot be created until we have a coach for every team we can or should form. And, it depends upon what division.

• Playground and Schoolyard do not have weekday practices. Both have jamboree style training followed by small sided games at the end of the session. These will always be on Saturday mornings. The actual time and field will be determined by mid-August.
• The 6U and 8U divisions will also have a single playing time on a field to be determined. However, parents should know that games might be outside of the standard time slot to accommodate a team with a coach coaching more than one team. It might require their 6U or 8U team's game time move since the other team's time is controlled by another Region (other than South Irvine).
• The 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions' teams play teams from neighboring AYSO Regions. These schedules are created at the Area level and should be posted by August 28. Keep in mind that the home team Region determines the field and game start time.

Where to go to get your child's schedule will depend as well:

• Schoolyard, Playground, 6U and 8U schedules will be posted in Blue Sombrero. This means you can log into your Blue Sombrero account (on www.AYSO144.org), click on the Team Central tab (once it has been posted), and your team's schedule will be shown on your child's Team Central page.
• The 10U, 12U, and 14U schedules will be posted in Matchtrak. Your coach will receive the link to the Matchtrak schedules which they should post on the Blue Sombrero Team Central site. And, a talented Team Manager can and should load the Team Central calendar with the game schedules.

Blue Sombrero allows you to find out when your child has been placed on a team. Log into your account for our website at www.AYSO144.org and look for Team Central. Team Central is where you can find out what team your child was placed on as well as coach contact information and to communicate with other parents of players on the team. If you don’t see a team for your child, then contact the division commissioner for an update.

Coach and friend requests will be considered for only the 6U and 8U divisions. Note: The division commissioner cannot always honor coach or friend requests.

The 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions are competitive divisions. The goal for team formation is to form Balanced Teams (to the best of our ability). Therefore, we cannot accept coach or friend requests other than requests that immediate family members play on the same team.

Instructions for submitting friend requests:

• submit all requests to the division commissioner. Please do not submit your requests to the Regional Commissioner. They need to be sent to your child’s division commissioner.
• All requests must be mutual. In other words, if you you’re your child to play on a team with another child, then the parents or guardian of the other child must also send a separate email to the division commissioner making the same request for their child to play on the same team as your child.
• Do not request your child be placed on a team with two or more others. The 6U and 8U divisions only have 6 players per team. Thus, requests for your child to play with two or more other kids creates problems with finding enough coach and referee volunteers now and in the future. For example, we want every 8U team to have one coach and two referees. One in every two players should be associated with someone who is an adult coach or a referee (which can be any person 12-years old an older).
  
  6U: If you want to submit a request for two or more kids to play with your child in the 6U division, then make sure an adult coach is clearly identified and associated with one of the players.
  
  8U: If you want to submit a request for two or more kids to play with your child in the 8U division, then make sure an adult coach is clearly identified and associated with one of the players and someone else (not the same person as the coach) who agrees to be an active referee is clearly identified as well.
• .

From time-to-time, we receive requests from parents that want to transfer their child to another team (after the teams have been formed). Although we would like to accommodate requests for transfers, they are not always easy to do in a way which is fair for everyone involved. Thus, we have a published policy & protocol posted in the Regional governing documents section on this website. In general:

• Submit your request to the division commissioner (and not the Regional Commissioner). Include an explanation for your request.
• Transfers require 4 approvals: 1) Both coaches must approve (2 approvals); 2) A parent or guardian for the other player willing to switch teams; and, 3) The Regional Commissioner. The division commissioner cannot complete the transfer if any one (1) of the four (4) individuals above declines.
• Transfers in the 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions are extremely difficult to approve due to the team balancing. In addition to approvals from all four (4) people listed above, the division commissioner must find a player of a similar rating on another team who is willing to transfer.
• No transfers after the first game of the season.

Division	Practices	Games
Playground (4U):	Playground does not utilize the concept of practices or games. It's a playground like experience delivered by parents and supervised by a trained AYSO Soccer Camps coach. Details on the Playground program can be found by clicking HERE.
Schoolyard (5U):	The Schoolyard program is delivered jamboree style. Training is introduced at the beginning of the session followed by about 20-minutes of short-sided games. Details on the Schoolyard program can be found by clicking HERE.
6U:	Practices will be one 1-?hour session per week.	Games are four 5-minute quarters with a 5-minute half time break plus a 2-minute substitution break between the 1st & 2nd quarters and 3rd & 4th quarters. Games are scheduled for each hour and are usually scheduled throughout the morning.
8U:	One 1-hour practice per week.	Games are four 10-minute quarters with a 5-minute half time break plus a 2-minute substitution break between the 1st & 2nd quarters and 3rd & 4th quarters. Games are scheduled for each hour and are usually scheduled throughout the day (some games will be scheduled for the early afternoon.
10U:	Two 1-hour practices per week.	Games are two 25-minute halves (running clock) with a substitution at a normal stop of play approximately halfway through each half and a 5-minute half time break. Games are scheduled to start every 1 hour and 15 minutes and are scheduled throughout the day (some games may be scheduled for late afternoon).
12U:	Two 1-hour practices per week.	Games are two 30-minute halves (running clock) with a substitution at a normal stop of play approximately halfway through each half and a 5-minute half time break. Games are scheduled to start every 1 hour and 30 minutes and are scheduled throughout the day. Teams in the 12U division may have to travel to neighboring Regions to play away games.
14U:	Two 1-hour practices per week.	Games are two 35-minute halves (running clock) with a substitution at a normal stop of play approximately halfway through each half and a 5-minute half time break. Games are scheduled to start every 1 hour and 30 minutes and are scheduled throughout the day. Teams in the 14U division will travel to neighboring Regions to play away games.

The Region provides all of the following:

• Players receive a uniform kit including: jersey, shorts, and socks.
  Parents need to get shin guards, shoes and a ball. Guide to ball sizes:
  • Playground, Schoolyard, Core 6U and 8U: Size 3 ball.
  • 10U and 12U: Size 4 ball.
  • 14U and older: Size 5 ball.
  The Fall season also includes a basic Picture Day package. See the Picture Day page for details.
  A participation memory such as a medal or trophy for players in the Playground, Schoolyard, 6U and 8U divisions is also included. Trophies or medals are also provided for the Regional champion and runner-up in the 10U, 12U, and 14U divisions.
• Coaches receive all of the equipment needed to conduct practices and manage games. The Region also pays for all training so they can attend for free.
• Referees receive all of the equipment needed to officiate games (except their shoes and watch). The Region also pays for all training so they can attend for free.
• The Region also pays for a number of other things out of your registration before and during the season such as: field painting services, new nets, goals, corner flags, and a fee to the city for every registered player (more for players with an address outside of Irvine).

Parents are responsible for several things to ensure the coach has what they need and players are ready to play.

• Release FormsMake sure you print out and sign (with a blue ink pen) your child’s registration and release of liability form and give to your child’s coach. If your child’s team has an assistant coach, then print out and sign (with a blue ink pen) another copy of your child’s registration release of liability form to give to them too.

General for everyone:

• Socks and shin guards. Shin guards must be worn under the socks. Do not place the shin guards on top of the socks and then fold the socks over them.
• Jewelry. Your child cannot wear any jewelry. This is for your child’s safety. Make sure all earrings have been removed – and, no, you cannot put tape over them! No necklaces and nothing on the wrists. All jewelry MUST BE REMOVED or your child does not participate in practices or games. Medical ID bracelets may be worn if they are taped close to the skin (not covered by a wrist sweat band – they must be taped close to the skin (and you can use medical tape to do this).
• Team Manager or Team Parent. We have been getting a lot of questions from people asking questions about being a Team Manager or Team Parent. I am pleased to announce that Shoba has stepped in to fill a much needed Regional Team Manager Administrator role to provide a point of contact with all of your questions. A few of which we can answer here: 1) All Team Parents must be an official volunteer in Blue Sombrero; and, 2) To be an official Team Parent volunteer, you must register as a volunteer, indicate Team Parent for the team you will be helping, and complete AYSO Safe Haven training. More details available on the website.
• Photo Day. Photo Day is scheduled for September 22. The schedules for teams will be posted once game schedules are posted. Team Parents and Coaches will also receive schedule information and instructions from their Division Coordinator.
• Game Schedules. Game schedules are posted on the www.AYSO144.org website (Blue Sombrero) for the Playground, Schoolyard, 6U Core program, and 8U Core program divisions. The 10U, 12U, and 14U Core program divisions are posted on the Area 11-Q Matchtrak site at http://s11q-18-fall.matchtrak.com/. Keep in mind that game schedules are subject to change at any time – and adjustments are being made this week to accommodate coaches with 2 teams now that all schedules are posted and to add a team in some divisions. Make sure you check the schedules again and the day before the game.

Please see the following document: How to print player registration form

The Winter season does not include weekday practices. A brief warm-up and training session is followed by a small-sided game on Saturdays for all divisions. By small-sided games, we mean that games are played 4 versus 4 or 5 versus 5 (depending upon division) on small fields, with no goal keepers, and small portable goals.

Yes. The 12U and 14U divisions are co-ed for two reasons: 1) not enough players to form gender-specific divisions, and 2) we have learned that it is fun and creates fabulous friendships.

One person serving as the match “official” is required. This person does not have to be a certified referee in uniform. Although, a certified referee in uniform is preferred. The Winter season is small-sided games and the "official" for the match can be a referee or it can be any registered volunteer with the AYSO Safe Haven certification and Concussion training (like all AYSO coaches).

In most cases, the answer is yes. The division commissioner should get an email from both sides of the request. For example, if you want your child to play with another child, then both you and the parent/guardian of the child should send the same request to the division coordinator.

Click HERE to go to the list of division coordinators (under "Board and Staff" on the "About AYSO 144" page on the website).